Method and apparatus for spinning metal tubes



R. CROWELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNING METAL TUBES Filed Jan. 11, 1922 Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

were tarts RUFUS CROWELL, F VIINCHESTER. MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNING METAL TUBES.-

Application filed January 11, 1922. Serial No. 528,497.

To aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Burns CRownLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Spinning Metal Tubes, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for spinning metal tubes to form ferrules or like structures, whereby the metal of the tube is formed over into an end flange integral therewith.

By the method and'apparatus of this invention the metal of the tube is upset and caused to fiow by progressive action from the end by withdrawing support from one side of tube, for ferrules the inside support being so withdrawn, the material flowing over on to the end thereof. By this action it is found possible to obtain a smooth finished article in which the thickness of the end flange may be regulated and may be made as thick or even thicker than the tube itself. So far as is known it has hitherto been found impossible to spin a tube to form an end flange thicker than the tube itself.

For a more complete understanding of this invention together with further objects and advantageous details and combinations of parts, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal cross section through a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of F igure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the finished article.

Referring to these drawings at 1 is indicated a base or head of a machine having upstanding from its uppersurtace a bearing 2. This bearing is hollow and is adapted to carry any suitable mechanism by which a tube may be supported for rotation and by which it may be fed when desired axially. As shown this mechanism comprises a cylindrical element 3 movable axially in this member 2 and having at one end an inclined or conical cam face 4 adapted to engage a mating face on a sectional frustroconical clamping member 5. By movement of the member 3 member 5 may be compressed against the tube 6 of materialwhich rounding the tube 6 and journaled in bearings 8 and 9. If desired the bearing 9" may.

be carried by a support independent of the bearing 8, but as herein shown it is mounted on the same base 1 therewith.

Between the bearings 2 and 8 the sleeve 7 has fixed thereto a pulley 10 over which is passed a belt 11 by which it may be rotated. The bearing 9 has journaled therein a sleeve 12 fixed to the sleeve 7 to rotate therewith, this sleeve 12 having a flange 13 at its rear end against which may be made fast a plate let extending over the. rear end of the tube 6 and having fixed thereto the outer end of rod 15, the forward end of which is fixed to a sleeve 16 The sleeve 16' carries slidably therein a mandrel 17'having a head 18 at its outer end of suflicient size to substantially fill the bore of thetube 6. This mandrel is normally projectedoutwardly from the sleeve 16 by means of a spring 19, surrounding a reduced portion 20 thereof and bearing against a shoulder 21 at one end of this portion and against' a shoulder 22 at the rear end of the sleeve 16. The outer limit of motion of this plunger is determined by a screw 23 threaded in the rear end of the mandrel 18, the head of this screw being slidable within a recess 24: in the end of the bar 15. The element 3 may be moved axially of the mandrel to clampv and release the tube 6 thereto by means of a hand lever 25 pivoted at 26 and having pins 27 projecting into a groove in the-member 3. By this mechanism the tube 6 may be adjusted axially, over the mandrel head 18 though any other suitable mechanism for accomplishing this function is within the scope of this invention.

Co-operating with the mandrel is a socket member 30 carried by the inner end of a bar 81 slidable through a block 32 fixed to the base land keyed against relative rotation therewith by means of a key 33. This socket member 30 has a recess 34 of suflicient diameter to pass over the end of the tube 6 and the mandrel. At its central point is provided a boss 35 projecting toward the mandrel and journaled between this boss and the exterior wall 36 of this member on a pin 37 is a pair of rollers 88. The socket member 80 may be moved axially by means of a lever 40 pivoted at 41 of the base 1 and having a slot 42 therein engaging over a pin 43 fixed to the bar 31.

Suitable means for cutting off the tube after it is formed is provided, such means as shown comprising a cutting wheel 44 journaled on a lever 45 pivoted at 4i6 to the base 1, and provided with a stop lug l? to limit its motion, this lever being pivoted preferably on the rear side of the machine. By engaging this lever 45, the wheel 44 may be moved into position to cut the tube 6 and the formed ferrule removed, and the tube 6 may thereupon be moved axially by any suitable means by releasing the member 5 therefrom to provide for a succeeding operation.

The tube being positioned substantially as shown in Figure 1 and locked in position, rotation is imparted thereto through the belt 11 and the socket member is thereupon brought over the end of the tube, so that the rolls 38 impinge on the end edge thereof. By exerting pressure on the lever 40 the material of the tube is upset at the end and as the socket Wall'prevents it from turning outwardly it is turned inwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to form an end flange as 50 on Figure l. The boss 35 impinging on the end of the plunger causes this plunger to retract within the tube 6, thus causing the tube 6 to be unsupported in an axial direction progressively from its end so that the material of the tube may be spun over by the rollers 38 and against the end of the mandrel. The distance through which the boss 35 projects beyond the rollers determines the thickness of the material of the flange so formed. \Vhile as shown the mandrel and tube revolves it is evident that rotation might be imparted to the socket member instead, it being only essential that the plunger for supporting the inner face of the tube should retract as the spinning action proceeds. When the spinning is complete socket member 30 may be retracted and the end of the tube out off by the wheel 44L and the finished ferrule removed from the mandrel. A succeeding length of tube may then be brought into position to be operated The rolls may be shaped to conform to the end of the mandrel to shape the flange as desired.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident. to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a mandrel for supporting one end of a tube, means for rotatably carrying said mandrel and tube and permitting said mandrel to retract from the end of said tube, a socket member engageable over the end of said tube and mandrel, and movable axialiy thereof, rollers in said socket bearing against the ends of the tube and mandrel, means to rotate said tube relatively to said socket, and means for forcing said socket against the ends of said tube and mandrel, whereby the end of said mandrel is retracted and the end of said tube spun over.

2. A device of the class described comprising a mandrel for supporting one end of a tube, means for rotataby carrying said mandrel and tube and permitting said mandrel to retract from the end of said tube, a socket member engageable over the end of said tube and mandrel, and movable axially thereof, rollers in said socket bearing against the ends of the tube and mandrel, means to rotate said tube relatively to said socket, means for forcing said socket against the ends of said tube and mandrel, whereby said mandrel is retracted and the end of said tube spun over, and means for determining the thickness of the spun portion.

3. A device of the class described comprising a mandrel. for supporting one end of a tube, means for supporting said mandrel permitting it to retract within said tube, a socket member engageable over the end of said mandrel and tube, a stop in said socket member, engageable with said mandrel, means for relatively rotating said socket members and tube, means for relatively moving said socket member and mandrel axially of said tube, and means engaging the end of said tube acting on said relative axial and rotary movement of the tube and socket to spin the end of said tube over the end of said mandrel.

4. A device of the class described comprising means for supporting the inside and outside of a tube, a member engageable with the end of the tube and movable axially to upset the material of the tube, and means permitting a portion of said supporting means to retract axially of the tube as its end is upset to permit the material. of said tube to flow thereover.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

RUFUS CROWELL. 

